Bomb threat averted after device deemed 'hoax'

BROAD CREEK — A suspicious device found Thursday at a Carteret County school was deemed harmless but caused a day-long investigation that put the school on lockdown and sent students home early.

JANNETTE PIPPIN Daily News Staff

BROAD CREEK — A suspicious device found Thursday at a Carteret County school was deemed harmless but caused a day-long investigation that put the school on lockdown and sent students home early.

Carteret County Sheriff Asa Buck said as the school day was coming to a close that the device located at Broad Creek Middle School was determined safe and that investigators were in the process of talking to the juvenile who allegedly brought the device to school.

Buck confirmed the juvenile is a student at the school but did not provide more details because of the suspect’s age. He said charges are pending.

The 14-year-old was released to the custody of the student’s mother later in the afternoon.

In a later afternoon news release, the sheriff’s office said the juvenile cooperated with law enforcement and revealed that “the whole thing was meant as a hoax not intended for the school but rather a residential subdivision.”

The teen got the idea for the hoax from the Internet, according to the release.

The device, fashioned in a way that resembled a potential explosive, was found in the student’s locker, authorities said.

“It was fashioned in such a manner that a reasonable person would see it and say: ‘That doesn’t look right,’” Buck said.

Buck did not comment further about the nature of the device because the investigation is ongoing. The device had no explosive materials and no one was harmed during the incident.

Carteret County Public Schools communications director Tabbie Nance said the school day will resume on regular schedule today at Broad Creek Middle School.

She said an investigation into the suspicious device was initiated after a student reported it to an assistant principal. Law enforcement was contacted and the school resource officer from nearby Croatan High School came to Broad Creek and started the investigation.

According to the sheriff’s office, the device was found in the juvenile’s locked after he bragged about it to fellow students.

All students were initially taken outside until the situation could be assessed further.

Once it was determined there was a need to evacuate and that the investigation would take several hours, the students were transported to Croatan High School.

Broad Creek students were dismissed at noon and either were picked up their bus at Croatan High School or up by their parents.

As students were dismissed, the investigation continued.

A K-9 from Morehead City Police Department trained in bomb detection gave an “alert” on the device and the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team from Cherry Point was called to determine whether the device was explosive.

Buck said the components of the device were turned over to the sheriff’s office as evidence in the investigation.

While the situation ended safely, Buck said threats — real or perceived — are taken seriously. And whether they are intended to be malicious, they are a disruption.

“Something like this is not a good idea,” he said. “It causes a lot of disruption to the system and causes a lot of resources to get involved; Cherry Point, the SBI, an ATF agent and all these other people,” Buck said at the scene.

Other agencies involved included N.C. Highway Patrol and Carteret County Emergency Services.

“A huge thanks to the students, parents, staff of Broad Creek Middle School for handling today’s incident in a serious manner,” Nance said. “Also thanks to Croatan High School, N.C. Highway Patrol, Carteret County Sheriff’s Officer, County Emergency Services, and so many others for providing such great support. Student safety is always number one.